It was good to be back. Phlox was right. Her quarters were much more conducive to her recovery. Giving Travis a weak smile, she laughed. "Did he really say that?"

"I know. If I hadn't heard it with my ears, I wouldn't have believed it either," he replied, seeing how tired she was. He had to limit his visit, which he hated because he wanted to stay and reassure himself she was all right. "Are you going to be okay?"

She continued smiling and nodded her head, but Travis could see that the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Are you in any pain? Can I get you something?"

His concern was touching and she wiped her arm across her eyes to dash the tears that threatened as she thought about Malcolm. She had overheard Bryant's deathbed confession and Malcolm and Phlox talking afterward.

"Soval?" Malcolm asked, the name vaguely familiar.

Phlox's voice was equally puzzled. "Alte'tcs are used in older Vulcans to regulate the end stages of Bendii Syndrome. The tube had to be implanted in Mr. Bryant and detonated to release the rosen. Only a Vulcan physician would be familiar with this device."

Malcolm stared at the corpse, barely hearing the doctor's words. "The ambassador of Vulcan," he spoke out loud. "Surely there has to be more than one Soval on Vulcan."

His question went unanswered as Phlox logged the death and pulled a sheet over Bryant.

Having overheard the beginnings of the conversation, Hoshi got out of bed and took a few faltering steps. She pulled the curtain back and grimaced.

Malcolm turned with a look of concerned worry on his face. "Doctor," he called, wanting to scoop her up in his arms, but not wanting to aggravate her further.

"I'm fine," she huffed, and walked slowly toward the covered corpse. The name rang in her head and her curiosity got the better of her. "What did he say about Ambassador Soval?"

Phlox scowled at her. "Now, now. Don't make me tie you to the bed, Lieutenant," the doctor chastised her. "Although I'm glad your hearing is as remarkable as ever, you really shouldn't be out of bed."

Hoshi pulled away from Phlox and walked up to Malcolm, unaware of his ongoing investigation. "What did he say about Ambassador Soval?" she repeated.

Malcolm stared at her, part of him wanting to assist the doctor while the other part wanted to answer her. "It doesn't matter, Lieutenant. I'm sure there's more than one Vulcan by the name of Soval," he replied, taking her by her good elbow and trying to coax her back to the biobed.

Pulling her arm from his grasp, she glared at him. "Vulcan names are unique. There's only one Soval of Vulcan."

Malcolm left, saying nothing as usual.

Time had passed, and like a romantic fool, she had thought he would eventually come back to her, especially after that slip of a kiss during target practice. There were too many clichés that ran through her head when it came to him – hope springs eternal – barking up the wrong tree. It was time to banish those sayings and move on.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Travis repeated, concerned as she stared at him. He could see tears in her eyes.

A single tear spilled onto her cheek and she wiped it away. "A phase rifle."

"Huh?" Travis asked, perplexed.

Hoshi laughed softly. "To shoot him if he comes to see me," she tried to explain, knowing full and well Malcolm Reed would be the last person to come and visit her. 

"Malcolm?" Travis guessed.

More tears spilled down her cheeks. "God, I hate being like this! All weepy and girly! Why can't I just forget him, Travis? He certainly has forgotten me."

Gathering her in his arms, he shushed her. "I don't think he's forgotten you. He'll come around." Travis hugged her tighter as she started to tremble.

It wasn't until she started hiccupping that Travis realized she was laughing and he started wondering if it was an aftereffect of her illness.

Pulling away from her friend's embrace, she felt stronger. "I'll be an old woman by the time that stubborn jackass comes around. It's time I move on."

Travis smiled and rubbed her shoulders. "Don't give up on the stubborn jackass, yet," Travis said, a scheme plotting in his brain.

"Why shouldn't I?" she asked willfully.

"Just give me some time and go along with everything I say, okay?"

Hoshi gave Travis a skeptical look but nodded in agreement.

--

Archer stared at Reed as though his armory officer had gone mad. "You mean to tell me the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth is behind the assassination attempt? I suppose you're going to tell me he was the 'second gunman' too."

Malcolm nodded slowly, not at all amused by his commanding officer's historical reference.

T'Pol stood in her traditional pose, arms crossed, saying nothing.

"T'Pol?" the captain asked. "Care to shed any light on Mr. Reed's speculation?"

Unfolding her arms, T'Pol addressed both men. "It is possible."

Jon's eyebrows arched, yet he remained silent so his second-in-command could finish her argument.

"Although I do not understand Lieutenant Commander Reed's accusations fully, there is circumstantial evidence, which dictates a high probability Ambassador Soval was in the area at the time of the attack," T'Pol said, pausing. "The Ambassador was scheduled to present a discussion on interstellar trade at the Orion symposium before the trade conference."

"So, we're going to take circumstantial evidence and the word of a terrorist and accuse Soval of…" the captain's voice trailed off, waiting for somebody to fill in the blank.

Malcolm started to speak, but T'Pol raised her hand.

"If what Lieutenant Commander Reed is saying is true, would it not be worth investigating?" the Vulcan asked calmly.

Jon threw his hands up in the air. Sure, he and Soval didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but he wasn't going to commit career suicide by accusing him of being in league with a terrorist cell.

Malcolm couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had requested the Sub Commander to be present as he presented his findings to the captain, but this wasn't turning out quite how he imagined. Instead of resistance from the Vulcan, she was actually pleading his case.

"I'm not suggesting Soval was the second shooter, captain," he stated, trying to keep his voice unemotional like T'Pol's. "I'm stating the accusation warrants further investigation. Perhaps – "

"What will it take for you to drop this?" Archer asked sharply.

"I need access," Malcolm replied.

"To?" He needed to know more than that.

"Everything," Malcolm stated, then paused. "I might require Ensign Sato's…gift, as well."